What are homologous traits? Similar traits in different organisms based on common function. Traits only found in the genus Homo. i.e. living humans and their extinct ancestors. Similar traits resulting from independent evolution in different groups of organisms. Similar traits in different organisms based on common descent. How does cladistics differ from evolutionary systematic? Only cladistics traces evolutionary relationships and constructs classification that reflect these relationships. Only evolutionary systematics recognizes that organisms must be compared using specific characters. Only cladistics rigorously defines the kinds of homologies that yield the most useful information. Only cladistics uses homologous traits to trace evolutionary relationships. Why is the paleo species concept more difficult to apply to organisms than the biological and the ecological species concepts? Because reproductive isolation cannot be stuffed directly. Because ecological distinctions are difficult to impossible in past environments. Because neither exclusive mating nor ecological niche separation are usually accessible in fossil specimens. Because homologous traits are rarely expressed in fossil specimens. speciation is characterized by? Complete reproductive isolation of two populations. Partial reproductive isolation of two populations. No reproductive isolation of two populations. Complete ecologic niche separation of two species. What is the age of the oldest known fossils found on Earth: 3.8 billion years. 3.5 billion years. 2 billion years. 520 million years. is the study of: What happens to organic matter after death. How bones mineralize during fossilization. The rules of classification. Ancestral traits in closely related species. When general and specialized traits of organisms are considered in evolution it is important to recognize that only a generalized ancestor can profit from the flexible evolutionary basis for rapid diversification. Which of the following animals is an appropriate example for a highly specialized placental mammal that is structurally adapted to a narrow, rodent/woodpecker-like corniche: The duck billed platypus. The wallaby. The white- tailed deer. The aye-aye of Madagascar. Solution 38 d. Homologous traits are are shared by different species that share a common ancestor. Similar in structure or genetics, but may have very different functions and appearances. Example: bones in the wing of a bird and the hand of a primate are homologous.